Archive for the ‘Wine Business’ Category

Mar 17, 2006

The Urge To Exhuberate

"Every year is a vintage year in California!" This was the marketing cry among CA vintners for years. And for the most part it was true. And it’s even truer today when you consider the technology that vintners bring to bear on a tank of wine that might not be quite perfect. Mike Steinberger has a terrific article on Slate about the silliness and the opportunity that results from some peoples’ and critics’ focus on vintage quality and vintage variation….

Mar 17, 2006

Is $1.2 Million Enough for Sonoma Wine Country?

$1.2 Million It’s not a huge amount, but it is enough to garner some attention. This is the amount money that will be raised if Sonoma County grape growers vote to institute a self assessment to fund a "Sonoma County Wine Grape Commission"whose mission it will be to promote the Sonoma County as a grape growing, wine making haven. The vote among Sonoma County grape growers is set for May. Based on the story in the Press Democrat it appears…

Mar 16, 2006

Are you SURE that’s Pinot you are drinking?

How often is your Pinot Noir NOT Pinot Noir?  How often is it blended with Syrah or some other body and color enhancer? Consider this tidbit from Jordan MacKay’s "Noir Taboo" article in the latest issue of Wine & Spirits Magazine: "…2005 Pinot Noir sales are up 73 percent from the previous year. Yet the growth of Pinot bearing acreage is for the most part flat." Clearly there is lot of "Pinot Noir" being made that just isn’t 100% Pinot…

Mar 16, 2006

That Sucking Sound in Napa is Sonoma & Mendocino

Today, in his absurdly good weekly newsletter "Vintage Experiences" (subscription only), Dan Berger has some very interesting thoughts on Napa Valley and the idea of "Wine Country." In short, Dan suggests that Napa Valley, with its informally high prices for wine and the "wine country" lifestyle, is becoming less and less and true wine country where consumers and visitors can count on an authentic, and affordable, experience. But deeper into his article he makes the most important point: Napa Valley’s…

Mar 14, 2006

The Wine Business Blogs

I’m pretty damn happy to say that two Wark Communications clients have taken up blogging. And from mightily different perspectives. REthink Wine BlogInertia Beverage Group is a technology and marketing company out of Napa that helps wineries implement and drive direct sales. They are direct sales experts and that is exactly what their REthink Wine Blog is aimed at decoding. It’s a group blog with the CEO, the Tech Guru and Marketing and Customer Service folk all contributing. Inertia is…